Method of making tires.



-M. A, BEES. METHOD OF mmgmc mas APPLICATION FILED MAILZB, BIZ;

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Patented May 23, 1916.

APPLICATION min m/a213, my

M. 0555; METHOD OF MAKING TIRES.

Patenied, May 23, 1916.

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M. A. 0553. METHOD OF MAKING TIRES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-23, i912.

' Patented m 1910;

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Zen/tom it may concern:

e, it known thatl, MARK A. DEES, a ZBIIHOf the United-States of America, and ident of the city of St. Louis, in the er Missouri, have invented certain new .useful Improvements in Methods of king Tires, of which the following is a lgwclear, and exact description, reference ng had to the accompanying drawings, ming a part of this specification.

Mywinvention relates'to a methodof makhe. fabric skeletonsof hollow tires" of ind used upon thewheels of motor ve- ,l and in which the essential elements abric and rubber. My' invention has for its object-to.

probejbuilt up with the fabric threads ghly and uniformly rubberized bethey enter into the fabric, and unimly tepsioned in the "fabric; and by whichthe rubberized threads are laid in esfland compacted on a suitable mandrel reducing the fabric of the tire'structurc.

ll.-liereinafter'more fully appear. Mymethod may be conveniently and adntageously carried outby the use of the paratus'shown in the accompanying draws,in which 1- igure I isa view partly inside elevan and partly in. vertical section of my Ipa'ratus, with the parts shown as they appear in building up a skeleton fabric acrding to myimproved method. Fig. II is rtical section taken on line IL-II, Fig. 'ith certain elements of said apparatus igi'lIl is a side elevation of the reel of apparatus, the mandrel being shown in oss section with fabric threads partly ound thereon. Fig. IV is. an elevation ring at the periphery of the reel. Fig. 1s;a cross sectionof the mandrel, and the brifc skeleton thereon as laid in the use f my apparatus, the skeleton fabric threads sing shown as they appear previous to their erance at the inner circumference of the andrel to produce the separable inner o Fig. V, illustrating the skeleton fabric as appears after the severance of'the fabric M an improvement in those methods in i he practice of which a tire skeleton fabric hese and furtherobjects of the invention" iacent to said line showxrjin elevation] d ges of a tire. Fig. V1 is a view similar breads and during the process of adizusting T D STATES OFFICE; Y

A V DEES, F SIaLOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIG-NOR TO AMERICAN TIRE COMPANY, O i ST. LOUIS MISSQURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI. 1

METHOD or MAKING rrnns.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented lay 23 1916 Application filed March 23, 1912. Serial No. 685,752.

these threads into their proper positions at the separable edges of the tire.

In the drawings: 1 designates standards serving as the main supports for means by which a circularmandrel A may be supported and revolved during the process of forming the skeleton fabricstructure of the tire on said mandrel. The mandrel A preferably has a cross sectionalshape corresponding approximately to the shape of the inner wall of a hollow tire that is to be produced in the use of my-apparatus; and-which,

vwhen completed, will have-separable edges at its inner circumference, such as are common to. the hollow tires used on the wheels of motor vehicles.

2 designates mandrel receiving rollers adjustable upwardly and inwardly toward a common center, and downwardly and outwardly relative to said common center, which is identical in location with the axis of the mandrel A when it rests on the rollers 2. The rollers Qmay be adjusted by adjusting screws 3.

The mandrel revolving rollers 2 are cylindrical in shape in order that the mandrel, revolved by frictional contact therewith, may be turned at a uniform speed, irrespective of the size of the mandrel and irrespective of its increasing circumference during the progress of winding fabric threads thereon as provided for in'the use of my apparatus.- These rollers may be driven by any suitable means, such as sprocket wheels 4, and an endless drive chain 5. Operating an endless drive chain 6 is a sprocket wheel- 7, driven by a bevel wheel 8in mesh with a bevel pinion 9, driven by a main power shaft 10. The mandrel A is retained in an upright position by gravitative rollers 11, preferably of grooved type, carried by slide boxes operable in inclined slots 1 in the upper ends of the standards 1.

B designates a reel bearing preferably located midway between the mandrel revolving rollersQ. This reel support comprises a lower bearing box member 12 provided I with a'leg 13 and a 'cap 14. The leg 13 of the reel bearing is adjustably held within a. suitable base clamp 15. p

C' designates the reel of my apparatus. This reel includes a hollow carrier 16,.preferably of doublebell shape, with its smallest diameter at its center, at which point said carrier is provided with a journal 17 rotatable within the reel bearing B, as seen most clearly in Figs. I and II. The reel carrier 16 is so supported as to provide for the operation of the mandrel A longitudinally therethrough when said mandrel is being revolved by the rollers 2,'and also to provide for the operation of the reel around sections of said mandrel. The reel C maybe rotated by any suitable. means, such as a sprocket rim 18 surrounding the reel carrier and a drive chain 1% operable on said sprocket rim and driven by a sprocket wheel 20 on the main power shaft 10. o

21 designates bobbins carried by the reel C and from which thread of any suitable description may be delivered to and 1 wrapped around the mandrel A, while said mandrel is being slowly revolved and while the reel is rotating around a section, of the mandrel. There are preferably two sets of bobbins 21 arranged side by. side in the reel,

and carried, for example, by the individual reel section's B', the two. sets of bobbins being provided in order that two separate plies of thread made by any desired numer of threads may be simultaneously made upon the mandrel A with one ply produced at one endof the reel and the other ply produced at the other end of the reel. The

plies thus produced are accomplished at op- .posite sides of the longitudinal center of the reel, hence the'threadsentering the dif-.

ferent plies are out of conflict with each other. Furthermore, by this arrangement, a very important result is accomplished in that the threads wrapped on the mandrel in one ply from one set of bobbins are wrapped dia onally of the mandrel in one direction, an those wra ped onto the mandrel in the other ply fro the other set of bobbins are wrapped diagonally in the opposite direction, whereby the threads in the plies'cross each other contr'awise and take care of strains imposed on the fabric structure when a tire containing it is put into service.

Provision is made in the reel C for the rubberizing of the threads drawn from the bobbins 21 beforethese threads are delivered to and wrapped onto the mandrel A,

and inasmuch as I preferably accomplish are semiannular chambers 22 surrounding -1tl1e' reel carrier 16 a and into wvhich the threads from the bobbins 21 pass through suitable apertures in the walls ofthe chambcrs, as illustrated in Figs. I, II and III.

The plastic rubber receptacles are cylinders 23 arranged around the chamber 22, longitudinally of the reel, into which the threads apertures'24 in the reel carrier 16', (see. Figs.

.1, II and III), and then in their coated" condition are delivered to the -mandrel A onto which they are wrapped, due, to the rotation of the reel C around the mandrel,.'

each of the threads being caused to be prop-- erly laid on the mandrelv adjacent to the thread last laid, owing to the mandrel being in continuous slow motion in a circuliir path extending in part through the rec It will be a arent. that the liquid rub-' her in the chambers 22 of the .reel C will be readily applied to the threads by the simple act of passing them through such liquid rubber. I deem it advisable to place the plastic rubber under pressure, in order that it ma be held in a compact mass while the threa s are passing'therethrough, and

be constantly pressed around 'the threads. The desired compacting of the plastic'rubber may be secured by the following means illustrated in the drawings. In the plasticrubber cylinders 23 are followers 25 caused to exert pressure against the plastic rubber by riding on feed screws 26, each provided screws 26 will be partially rotated at frequent enough intervals to cause'the follower 25 to hold the plastic rubber under uniform pressure.

It will be obvious that when the threads delivered from the bobbins on the reel of my apparatus have been rubberized'by passing them through rubber, in the manner hereinbefore described, and then winding them around the mandrel A, such threads are held taut and are wound on the mandrel under uniform tension. It .will furthermore be obvious that inasmuch there are a plurality of bobbins upon the reel C and the threads are delivered through the carrier of the reel at uniformly spaced points throughout the radius of said reel, the threads are constantly drawn around the mandrel with pulling action in as many directions as there are threads; hence, the mandrel is subjected to -an equable action by all the threads, and its central position with respect to the delivery of the threads thereto from the reel is readily maintained. The threads Wound upon t e mandrel 'are wrapped uniformly there! a, as oreviously stated; but it will be evident thatyinasmuch as these threadsare rubberized, it is desirable tocoinpress the threads in each double ply wrapped around the mandrel, in order 'that /tiie threads may be condensed and the bber-thereon be compacted. To provide or'flsuch condensation andfcompression, I

escribedi 29 designates: a braoketfittedto o e of the standards of my apparatusg This bracket serves: as a support for a sectionalbearing ring 30, 31.

32 and 33faresectiens of a presser roller 34 are presserrollers journaled in forks provided with shanks'36, which are looselymounted "in the carrier ring sectibnsfi These presser rollers are normally forced towardfeach other by springs 37. The car'rier ring is rotated within the beargring by anydsnitable means, such as a sprocket chain applied to a sprocket 38 on carr ie1'fring sections, and a chain exhe aipparatus by'whichvthe chain may be riyent] the presser carrier roller ring lers 3 L are moved transversely around the mandrel; while the latter is being re volved, and, the. desired compression and condensation. of thefi'rubberized skeleton gthreadsofthe tire structure is ac qiiiredig c l a I I *Underllcertainfconditions, it may be desirable, to maintain the rubber utilized for ibherizingtliethreads incorporated into a re structure. by the use of myiapparatus in a heated condition, and to proride for the bberbcing soimaintainedfl utilizea heatartiallyehdicling the reel C beneath said through suitable pipes. To confine the heat may utilize a hood 40 that extends over the eelffif fin l? igsQV and VI 1 have illustrated the manner in which the plurality of plies of tlireadslare arranged around the mandrel when theyd are been.woundtthereon the U lized to separate certain of said threads, so

ferenre arise mandrel, and then placed in their proper. pos tions at the inner edges of the tire structure. When the mandrel has turned one complete revolution it is covered i l grammatically iIMFig. V and before continuing theithread laying operation, a sepa rator ring 15:11 is placed against the threads at, asshowniinl V. a he mandrel isthen rodouble plies of threads I) and b around the use inj.my apparatns the meansabout to be i'erti cal'ly adjustable 7 carrier ring journaled in the bearing ring nding therefrom. to any suitable. part of olves around the mandrel A, the presser g device. comprising steam chambers 39,

reel, and ftQWlllCll steam may be conducted.

around the reel'from thesteam chambers, I

ster: my apparatus. and the means utithat theyviuaylbe cut at the inner circum with a double ply of threads rt, (shown diatated two complete revolutions to Wind two i I first double ply a. As all of the threads are rubberized5the double ply b will stick to the entire surface of the double ply o,

cepting that covered by the separator ring After forming the double ply of threads I) and b, bead rings or stiffener-s l3 ture and a separatorring 42 is positioned to prevent "the bead rings and threads I) from sticking to the next succeeding thread layer. The mandrel then turned three complete revolutions to produce the double plies of threads 0, a. and thereby completing the thread winding operation.

In forming a tire of the clencher .type, having separable inner edges, the fabric structure shown in Fig. V may be cutand "folded to he as shown in Fig. VI. The first. Istepiin this operation is to sever the three outer plies of fabric threads 0 c, and c, at

their inner circumferences, '(indicated by arrow :0 in Fig. V). The separator ring .42

is then removed and the three outer fabric plies are pressed around the bead rings as seen in Fig. VI. The fabric plies b and I) are severed to produce the inclined edges cl, (Fig. VI), and the edgesof the three outer'fabricplies aretrimmcd to match said inclined edges. Thefinal' steps consist in removing the separator ring 41, severing the inner fabric ply a and folding its severed edges over the edgesof .the outer fabric The function of the plies,'as seen inFig. VI. separator rings 41 and 42 is to prevent cer tain of the rubberized fabric plies from sticking to other plies at points adjacent to the separable edges of the liftthereby allowing different plies to be moved independently of each other in 1 ro l ucing the fabric structure shown: in Fig. VI.

Vihile I have very specifically described a certain number of thread plies, separator rings between said plies, andbcad rings around which certain plies are folded, it

willbe understood that my invention is not in anv way limited to the forming of a fabric structure in this manner. Any desired n'uinberof fabric plies may be formed on the mandrel, and the method of severing and folding such plies-nary be "varied to produce tires of various different types.

It is to be clearly understood that my method is one intended to be followed only for the purpose of producing the fabric skeletons of hollow tires, or other objects comprising fabric bodies similar to those entering into the skeletons of hollow tires It will further be understood that when a fabric skeleton has been made accordin to any method, raw rubber may be applied to such skeleton in accordance with any of the well known methods of applying such rubher to afford the usual rubber cushionof the tire, and the tire be then vulcanized by any usual method. The application of the are laid on'the side faces of the fabric strucraw rubber to the skeleton and the vulcanization' may take place while the skeleton such mandrel before the vulcanization fabric remains on the mandrel which it has been formd on, or it may be removed from In concluding the description of my method, I desire to call attention to certain advantages gained by practising the method as compared with the practice heretofore followed in making the fabric skeletons'of hollow tires, as follows: By providing a revolving mandrel and a rotatable winder, such as a reel 0, and providing for the mandrel being moved at a slower speed than the speed. at which the winder .is rotated, I amenabled to lay up the rubberized threads on the mandrel in plies comprising closely arranged coils so that the rubber-incasing each thread is in contact throughout all of the coils, and when the completed tire into which the fabric skeleton-entersis:produced, including 'the vulcanization of the rubber, the rubber around the threads isunited in a solid mass with the threads completelyembedded therein, each thread being efiectually' cushioned from every other thread and from all portions of the same thread.

By the use of my apparatus, employedin; carrying out my method, I am enabled to roduce afabric skeleton structure for tires, in which all of the threads are not only-completely rubberized, but are also-placed under uniform tension; in which puckering of the fabric commonly present in tlre skeletons as .ordinarily made is avoided; in whichthe fabric threads are so completely 'incased as to prevent their deterioration by exposure to the elements, or by friction against each winders are wound onto the mandrel insubother; and in which the objectionable laps and splices common to tire fabric skeletons as heretofore made are lacking. It is to be noted that the threads passing from the two' stantially parallel planes, the adjacent threads of each ply being substantially parallel with each other and those of one ply. being oppositely inclined to those of the'other. Each coil of thread is preferably formed by laying the thread diagonally across one side of the mandrel to form approximately one-half of the 3()ll' tl1d then laying the thread on the opposite side of the i mandrel at a point approximatelyopposite to and approximately parallel with the thread forming the first half of the coil.

In carrying out the preferred form of'my method, uniform coils of thread are formed on the rotating mandrel by rotating a thread winder around said mandrel at a point wherelthe thread after passing from the thread winder will lie diagonally on the mandrel irrespective of" the rotary movement of the mandrel. T

I claim I 1. In the 'artof making. fabric tire skeletons, the'method, which comprises winding thread'around a rotating annular mandrel, each coil of thread being formed by laying the thread diagonally across one side of the mandrel to form approximately one-half of the coil and then laying -thethread on the opposite side of the mandrel at a point approximately opposite to and approximately parallel with the thread half of the coil.

forming the first 2. In the art of making fabric tire skele .tons, the method which consists in simultaneously and helically winding two threads upon a rotatingannular mandrel in superimposed plies, the threads of one ply being oppositely inclined to those of the other.

3. In the art of making fabric tire skele tons, tly'method which consists in simultaneously -and helically winding threads in substantiallyparallel planes upon a rotating annular mandrel at two difierent points whereby two plies of threads will besup'er imposed on the mandrel, the 1 adjacent threads of each' ply being substantlally parallil, and those of one ply being oppositely 9 inclined to those of the other. z

l.. '[n the art of making fabric tire skeletons, the method which comprises winding thread around a rotating annular mandrel in a plane at such. a point and at such a speed relative to the rotation of the man-' drel that the thread will lie diagonally on the rotating annular mandrel irrespective of .the direction of rotation of said annular inandrel. 1

,5. In the art of making fabrictire skeletons, the method which comprises winding thread around the body of a rotating annular mandrel by passing the thread through the body of saidannular mandrel in such -a plane ata point between said body and the axis of the annular mandrel and at such a speed relative to the rotation of the mandrel that the thread will lie diagonally on the mandrel irrespective of the direction A. DEES.

- In the presence -'of' v A. JJMCCAULEY, 1 E. B. LINN.

of rotation of said mandrel. 

